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First let’s become familiar with a common behavior of American Avocets during their breeding season.<\/p>\n
One of the common agonistic (combative, aggressive) behaviors of American Avocets this time of year is called the “Circling Display.” Just before or during nesting two pairs of avocets (or one pair and a single unpaired individual) form a rough circle with their heads facing inward and angled downward. The birds make loud trumpeting sounds as the circle rotates in either direction. Often at some point during the circling display the cluster of avocets will erupt into combat involving two or more birds. Typically the fight is over in a flash and the action is remarkably fast and difficult for the photographer to capture well.<\/p>\n
But if you know it’s coming your chances of success improve dramatically.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/american-avocet-4203-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-avocet-4203-ron-dudley\\"")
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1\/6400, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II,\u00a0Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Six days ago I spent some time with a group of American Avocets at Bear River MBR. The setting is unattractive because they were in an area the refuge had burned last year in an effort to control phragmites. It was obvious that many of the avocets had already formed pair bonds but it appeared that some of them were unpaired.<\/p>\n Suddenly four of them began calling loudly as they formed a rough circle and pointed their heads downward. Because I’d seen (and heard) this behavior so many times before I immediately knew it was the Circling Display. I actually said out loud to Mia – “They’re gonna fly at each other and fight.” I quickly checked to make sure I had plenty of shutter speed for the blindingly fast action that would likely follow and waited for one or more of the birds to erupt. What I’ve presented below is a series of six shots in a burst with no skips – the entire episode lasted only .6 sec.<\/p>\n I didn’t have to wait long. It was the bird on the far left that was about to go ballistic (based on size, females are smaller, I believe it was a male).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/6400, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/p>\n Here he’s beginning to raise his wings in an attack on the bird on the right. The soon-to-be victim knew what was coming and…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/6400, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/p>\n tucked its head down and away in a defensive maneuver.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/8000, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/p>\n When avocets fight their primary weapon is their feet rather than their bills or wings as demonstrated in the next shot in the burst. The aggressor struck the victim with both feet so it’s a good thing that bird had protected its head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/5000, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/p>\n The force of the blow flattened the victim to the\u00a0 ground.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/5000, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/p>\n Then the aggressor quickly made his getaway…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/american-avocet-4204-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-avocet-4204-ron-dudley\\"")
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